Wednesday, 27 October 2010

Or rather my husband has signed me up on a family membership. Do you think he’s trying to tell me something? I suppose the excuse of post pregnancy bulge must be wearing a bit thin. My youngest is nearly 7 after all.

I’ve never been what you call a gym bunny. In fact, put me in a room with exercise machines and people pumping iron who all know what they are doing and the exercise pattern I will show is running very fast in the opposite direction.

To my husband I say -Ask me: Do you want a glass of wine? The answer will always be yes (unless I’m driving of course by which the answer will be no with an ill-contained snarl).Ask me: Do you want to go out for a meal? Again yesAsk me: Would you like a couple of hours to loll on the sofa and read a good book? Oh yes!Ask me: Would you like me to take the children out for the day so you can get some writing done? Oh yes please!

But

Ask me: Would you like to go to the gym? Answer – Erm, probably not.

I don’t mind swimming and I don’t mind walking but finding the time always seems to be problem. I mean there are always plenty of other things to do aren’t there? Even cleaning the oven seems preferable to pushing my muscles (or lack of them) to the limit.

But now I am a fully paid up member and as he’s paid it for me he’s going to want to see a return on his money. I suppose I could always sit in the coffee lounge and write my novel instead. Do you think he’ll notice when a year down the line I am no more toned than I am today? No, I don’t think I will get away with that one!

And to make matters worse the membership starts on 1 November – on the same day that NaNoWriMo starts. Guess I’m going to have my work cut out for me in November.

Tuesday, 19 October 2010

It’s been a while, I know since my last blog and for that I am truly ashamed. My life is always really hectic during the summer with work and family but this year I just haven’t seemed to be able to catch up and now its nearly half term. Already! I’m sure there is a gremlin out there somewhere stealing time from me.

I have been writing though, albeit I can’t say that I’m entirely happy with what I have written and so I haven’t been able to find the motivation to blog about it. I’ve been flitting between projects too so haven’t really built up any momentum.

In reality I’ve been having one of those “Where is my life going?” moments, only the moment has lasted rather longer than I could have anticipated.

But this month I’ve given myself a bit of a talking to because let’s face it, the only person who is going to change my life is me.

The thing that has really spurred me on though is the fact that November is approaching and November means – National Novel Writing Month or NaNoWriMo for short.

Last year I decided to enter NaNoWriMo on a whim. It’s a web based challenge to write 50,000 words in a month. I didn’t think I would be able to do it because finding time is often difficult but its amazing what a deadline does for you. Each day I watched the word count dial go up a notch until I was a winner – the buzz was just amazing.

The beauty of wrimo is that it gives you the freedom to write whatever comes into your head. It doesn’t have to be perfect prose as long as its down on the page and that gives you the freedom not to beat yourself up if the words aren’t coming out exactly how you want them. It also gives you the freedom to be a writer. I had a deadline that counted and until I had done the daily 1666 words needed to reach the target my family just had to wait. It didn’t seem to do them much harm either so it just goes to show.

I’ve continued with the novel I started at last year’s wrimo for the rest of the year, albeit at a slower pace, and so far have reached 120,000 words. Now I know that sounds a lot but it is a bit of a saga and I have a tendency to overwrite, so when I come to edit, that wordcount will be pruned down massively.

I have attempted this novel on a bit of a flying by the seat of my pants basis, so it does need a lot of work and now I think is the time to sit back and take stock.

I know I should continue with this novel and see it through to the end but the lure of wrimo and getting another 50,000 words down on paper is just too much for me to resist. I’ve had an idea for a chick lit novel floating around in my head for a while now and November seems to be the perfect time to catch it.

This year I’m approaching the project with a little more professionalism though. Instead of being a pantster I’m going to have a go at being a planner for once. During October I have been concentrating on doing my research, developing my outline, getting to know my characters and where they live and work and generally having some clue of where I’m going with this. I’m not there yet but I’m really enjoying getting my teeth stuck into something new.

So fingers crossed for November and I’ll let you know how I get on, if I haven’t worn my fingers out on the keyboard that is.

And then December is back to novel 1 which I will finish. I will, I will, I will!

ASPIRING AUTHOR

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About Me

Hi
I'm a working mum of two young boys who is desperately trying to make it is a writer. I'm into contemporary women's literature, but also am a little bit besotted with social history and would love to be able to write something about the lives of women in times gone by.